Rare Hare Tempest 20 Year Whiskey 700ML

Rare Hare Tempest 20 Year Whiskey 700ML is a limited-release Tasmanian single malt whiskey bottled at 42% ABV (84 proof) in a 700ml bottle. Distilled at Hellyers Road Distillery and restricted to just 2,500 bottles worldwide, this 20-year-old expression stands among the oldest commercially released Tasmanian single malts, finished in port casks that add uncommon depth to two decades of patient maturation.

Quick Facts: ABV: 42%  |  Origin: Tasmania, Australia  |  Age: 20 Years  |  Distillery: Hellyers Road Distillery

Production & Heritage

Hellyers Road Distillery, located in Burnie on Tasmania's northwest coast, is one of Australia's largest single malt whisky producers. The distillery uses locally sourced Tasmanian malt and barley, processed through a centuries-old pot still distillation method that spans three days, followed by a secondary slow still distillation for added refinement. The Tempest 20 Year spent seventeen years maturing in standard-size bourbon casks before being transferred to port casks for a final three-year finish — a patient approach that distinguishes it from many Tasmanian whiskies, which often rely on smaller barrels to accelerate aging. The result is a whiskey shaped by genuine time rather than shortcuts.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with biscotti, vanilla nougat, and citrus marmalade before revealing honeycomb and dried fruit. Beneath those initial layers, subtle toasted oak and a delicate wisp of smoke emerge with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is rich and immediate — baked biscuits and a pronounced anise note arrive first. The mid-palate broadens into stewed apricots, dark chocolate, and spiced orange zest, with supporting notes of caramelized sugar, golden sultanas, and ginger. At its peak, dried cherry and maple candy sweetness are grounded by earthy oak and a gentle warmth.

Finish: Long and layered, with cigar wrapper, old furniture polish, and dried apricot lingering well after the last sip. The port cask influence shows clearly here, leaving a faintly sweet, tannic texture that fades slowly into quiet spice.

How to Drink Tempest 20 Year

A whiskey of this age and complexity rewards neat serving at room temperature; a few drops of water can open up the port cask sweetness further. For those inclined to mix with a premium aged spirit, consider a Rob Roy, where the port-influenced fruit notes complement sweet vermouth naturally; a Blood and Sand, whose cherry liqueur mirrors the dried cherry character already present; or an Old Fashioned, kept simple with a single sugar cube and orange peel to let the oak and spice speak.

Best For

• Gifting a serious whisky collector — the 2,500-bottle limitation and 20-year age statement signal genuine rarity
• Marking a milestone anniversary or retirement with a spirit that reflects patience and time
• Adding a distinguished Tasmanian single malt to a world whisky collection
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or a fine cigar

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tempest 20 Year taste like? It delivers rich dark chocolate, stewed apricot, and spiced orange zest over a foundation of toasted oak and baked biscuit, with a long port-influenced finish marked by dried fruit and gentle tannic warmth.

How does Tempest 20 Year compare to Lark Single Malt? Both are premium Tasmanian single malts, but Lark's core expressions are typically younger and bottled at higher strength with more assertive new-make character, while the Tempest 20 Year leans into extended maturation and port cask sweetness for a rounder, more oak-driven profile.

Is Tempest 20 Year good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the 42% ABV is approachable enough to drink without dilution, and the 20 years of cask maturation have produced a complexity that rewards slow, undistracted sipping.

Where is Tempest 20 Year made? It is distilled at Hellyers Road Distillery in Burnie, on Tasmania's northwest coast in Australia, a region increasingly recognized as one of the world's emerging single malt whisky frontiers.

What foods pair well with Tempest 20 Year? Dark chocolate truffles mirror the cocoa notes on the palate; aged hard cheeses like Comté or Manchego complement the oak tannins; peach or apricot tart echoes the dried stone fruit; smoked duck breast works with the subtle smoke on the nose; and sticky toffee pudding amplifies the caramelized sugar sweetness.

What sizes does Tempest 20 Year come in? The Rare Hare Tempest 20 Year is available in the standard 700ml bottle size.

Is Tempest 20 Year worth the price? This positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier for Australian whisky, justified by a genuine 20-year age statement, port cask finishing, and a production run of only 2,500 bottles — factors that place it among the most exclusive Tasmanian single malts on the market.

Why Tempest 20 Year?

Twenty-year-old Tasmanian single malts are exceptionally rare, and the Tempest stands out even within that small field through its distinctive split-maturation approach — seventeen years in bourbon wood followed by three years in port casks. The limited run of 2,500 bottles worldwide underscores genuine scarcity rather than marketing artifice. Hellyers Road Distillery has earned national and international recognition for its whisky program, including the Malt Whisky Association of Australia's award for the nation's best single malt in 2010 and accolades at Whisky Live Paris in 2013. The Tempest 20 Year represents the distillery's patient, long-game philosophy distilled into a single bottle — a Tasmanian malt defined by real age and deliberate cask selection.